Australia seized control of the deciding third Test against South Africa at the close of play on day two, reaching 330/4. A resilient and unbroken fifth-wicket partnership between
Inglis, making his return to the Test side for the first time since December, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 85, featuring nine boundaries and two sixes. Partnering him, Carey reached 51 not out, marking his first half-century in 12 Test innings. Their 145-run stand stands as Australia’s first century-plus partnership for the fifth wicket against South Africa since 2014, effectively neutralising the momentum the hosts had built earlier in the day.
Building the foundation and weathering the collapse
The Australian innings was built on two significant partnerships that navigated the team through testing periods. After a solid start from Travis Head and Matt Renshaw, the momentum shifted briefly when off-spinner Simon Harmer claimed two wickets in a single over. Head was dismissed for 41 after dragging the ball onto his stumps, while Marnus Labuschagne departed for a five-ball duck, caught at slip.
Renshaw and Cameron Green then stabilised the innings with a 126-run third-wicket stand. Both batters reached their respective half-centuries, with Green showing particular aggression against Kagiso Rabada. However, the game tilted back toward South Africa when Marco Jansen struck twice in quick succession. Renshaw was caught behind for 74—a wicket that marked Jansen’s 100th in Test cricket—and Green followed shortly after, edging to the slips. With the score at 148/2 earlier in the day, the subsequent double-strike threatened to derail the Australian effort before the late-day heroics of Inglis and Carey ensured the visitors finished in a commanding position.
